hearing reports that P.J. Jones and the #1 Phoenix Racing team have parted ways, one rumor floating around has Dale Earnahrdt Jr in the car
UPDATE: .J. Jones was released as the driver of James Finch’s Phoenix Racing following Atlanta, and the owner was trying March 12 to finalize plans with Bill Davis to put Dave Blaney in his car beginning at Darlington. Finch also had talked with Davis about fielding a car for Scott Wimmer in a few races later this season. Davis’ Jani-King’s sponsorship for Wimmer’s car covers only a few more races. Finch would like to have Blaney’s experience behind the wheel. But using a Winston Cup regular like Blaney would drop Finch off the Busch Series Winner’s Circle and owner programs, worth a total of $9,500 per race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sterling Marlin were also contacted about driving Finch’s car. Earnhardt Jr. might’ve been interested in running a couple of Busch Series races, but not much more, and felt Finch probably wouldn’t be interested in such a limited program(Winston Cup Scene need to be a subscriber to read online) AND For the next two races – at Darlington and Bristol – Finch will turn to “Mr. Excitement” himself, Jimmy Spencer, to drive the #1 Pontiac while Finch negotiates to bring in another driver to finish out the year. Finch added that Yellow Freight would continue as Phoenix’s primary sponsor, a deal that hinges on the team competing over the entire 30-plus race schedule. (News Herald)(3-15-2001)
UPDATE 2: Jimmy Spencer will remain with the Phoenix #1 Yellow Frieght team for the remaining 17 BGN events this season that are companion races – same track, same weekend – to Winston Cup races. As for the seven other Busch dates on the schedule, Phoenix owner James Finch said that he has a commitment from Bobby Hamilton Sr. to drive at Nashville. Finch said he might contract with other drivers in a sort of musical seats for the remaining six races. Finch said he had flirtations with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney and Joe Ruttman to replace driver P.J. Jones, but instead will maintain a steady relationship with the driver known as “Mr. Excitement.” Spencer has generated sufficient excitement at Yellow Freight that it will continue as primary sponsor for the Phoenix Busch entry for the bulk of the season. Phoenix might still attempt to run the other six Busch dates not linked to Winston Cup events, for instance New Hampshire, Nazareth, Pa., Pikes Peak and Memphis, but that will depend on securing a driver who Finch prefers. Additionally, the team remains committed to running the remaining Winston Cup restrictor plate races – two at Talladega and one at Daytona – with Jeff Purvis in the seat.(News Herald)(3-27-2001)
